Mail-pouch.



No. 7||,502. Patented Oct. 2|, |902.

J. H. & PIJ. HUTTUN.

MAIL PoucH.

nApplication filed May 19, 1902.) (No Model.)

ATTORNEY'.

UNiTED' STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH HENRY HUTTON AND PHILIP JAMES HUTTON, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNORS OF SEVEN-TENTHS TO EDWIN E. CROOK, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

MAIL-POUCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 71 1,502, dated October 21, 1902.

' Application filed May 19, 1902. Serial No. 108,036. (No model.)4

TcaZZ whom, t 11a/ty concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH HENRY HUT- ToN and PHILIP J AMES HUTTON, citizens of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Pouches, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a` closure for mail-bags that will be strong and durable and that can be quicklyopened and closed, so as to save time in handling mailmatter.

We accomplish the objects of the invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accom- Like letters of reference indicate like partsthroughout the several views ofthe drawings. A represents a mail pouch or bag of any suitable or well-known construction havingv one side at the mouth end of the bag extended to form a i'lap B, which will b e folded over the open end of the bag to form a closure. Extending inward from the iiap, adjacentpto its outer longitudinal edge, is a row of headed pins or studs C. 'Each of thesestuds has a base-plate d. over and stitched to form a hem wide enough to receive the plates d, and the plates are inserted between the folds in the manner shownl in Fig. 5, with the stud projecting through the side of the hem. The plate d is prefer-l ably riveted to the stud after those parts are iu position, but before the iiap is sewcd down. A strap D is laid longitudinally of the flap on the same side as the studs, and outside of that are the'metal plates E,`one for each stud. The plates E are square and are each secured by the four corner-rivets e, which rivets pass through the said plates, the strap, the baseplate, and both folds of the iiap-hem. Interme- The end of the iiap'is folded diate of each stud is a rivet F, which secures the strap D to the iap B. Formed in the Walls of the body of the pouch are the perforations G, reinforced by the metal eyelets g, and through which perforations the st ud-pins C are adapted to extend when the flap is folded o ver the pouch'to close the same.

s On the back of the bag nearthe top is a sliding strap H, which is held to place and guided by the metal cross-bands or strapholders I. In thel sliding strap H are longitudinal slots h, slightly greater in width than the diameter of the stems of the studs and less than the diameter ofthe .stud-heads. These slots terminate at one of their ends With eyes large enough to allow the Aheads of the studs to pass through, after which the Withdrawal or locking of the studs is secured by' a longitudinal movement of the strap, which brings the narrow slot under the larger head of the stud. The head of the stud ,is spherical to facilitate the sliding ofthe strap under it. The round openings are all at the same ends of theirA slots, and the end ofthe strap toward which they are placed is provided with the handle extension J, havinga stop j,`which by contact with the nearest cross-band I arrests the strap with the slot enlargements alined with the perforations G of the pouch. The opposite end of the straphas the hinged hasp K, with slot k, which engages the staple i of the next adjacent strap-holder when the hasp is turned back upon the pouch, as shown in Fig. 2.l Apadlock (not shownlpassedthrough the staple in the usual manner locks the'liasp and secures the closureoffthe pouch.

Each cross-bar I is placed adjacent to percross-band. 'lfhe cross bands may be cut away on either side of their 'middles to lessen their weight, as shown; but their middles should be left intact to cover and protect the slot in the strap H. These' slots in said strap forations G; so that when the strapI-I is locked s the head of the stud C Will be against the are further strengthened by plates L, which IOO between the plate ends aiords the requisite iiexibility to the strap.

The plates protect the strap from wear, and should the strap be cut at the joint between the plates, as for the purpose of riiing the pouch, the plates will stilfen the strap, so the severed parts cannot be withdrawn from under the bands and the studs released.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a mail-pouch of a Hap for closing the end thereof having a hemmed edge and carrying a plurality of locking-studs, each of said studs comprising a base-plate located in the hem of the flap, a stem secured to the base-plate terminating at its outer end in a spherical head, said heads being adapted to be projected through perforations in opposite walls of the pouch, a longitudinal strap outside of the hem of the flap, and auxiliary metal plates outside of the strap through which the stems pass, rivets passing through said base-plate, liap, strap, andthe auxiliary plate, cross-bands on the outside of the pouch, a locking-strap between the cross-bands and the side of the pouch having slots for engaging the heads of the studs, said slots having end enlargements to permit of the passage of the stud-heads therethrough, and Ameans for locking the strap against endwise movement.

2. rlhe combination with a mail-pouch, of a fiap for closing the end thereof carrying a plurality of locking-studs, each of said studs comprising a stem having a base-plate riveted to the flap and terminating at its outer end. in a spherical head, said heads being adapted to be projected through perforations in opposite walls of the mouth of the pouch, crossbands on the outside of said pouch, a lockingstrap disposed between the crossbands and the side of the pouch having slots for engaging the heads of the studs said slots having end enlargements to permit of the passage of the stud-heads therethrough, metallic plates riveted to the outer side of said strap each plate embracing a single slot and the ends of each two adjacent plates almost touching each other, and means for locking the strap against endwise movement.

In witnesswhereof We have hereunto set our hands and seals, at Columbus, Ohio, this lst day of May, A. D. 1902.

JOSEPH HENRY l'IU'lTON. PHILIP JAMES IIUTTON.

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